Torpedo trap or guard.



L. E. ARMSTRONG.

TORPEDO TRAP OR GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. |911.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

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jgsotneq 3 l.. E. ARMSTRONG.

TORPEDO TRAP 0R GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 1911.

1,256, 1 94. Patented Feb, 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,M l., El ff/waffen? NEED STATE@ 'PATENT @FFQL LOUIS EARL ARMSTRONG, 0F OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO CHARLES MITCHELL, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

TORPEDO TRAP OR GUARD.

Application led March 29, 1917.

To all fro/02a t may concern Be it known that I, Lotus E. Amrs'rnoxo, a citizen of the United States oli America, residing' at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful lniprovements in Tor-- pedo Traps or Guards, ot which the tollen ing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying' drawing.

This invention relates to a torpedo trap and guard and has t'or its principal object the provision of a structure which is to be carried by a ship spaced from the sides of the hull so as to protect the ship from torpedo attacks.

nother object ot this invention is the production of a torpedo guard wherein a net is yieldably supported at a spaced distance 'from the side of the ship so that when a torpedo engages the not the not may yield for reducing the possibility ot. an explosion o-tf'the torpedo.

Another object oit this invention is the provision of a torpedo guard wherein the net is supported by a plurality oit loats so as to bc at all times adjacent the water line thus causingI the torpedo directed toward the ship to come into engagement with the net.

Another object oi: this invention is the provision of a torpedo trap or guard provided with a net comprising a plurality ot sections thus permitting the net to yield intermediate its ends as the 'floats oit the net more upwardly or downwardly independently oi. each other whereby the net will be carried at all times adjacent the *ater line.

Another object of this invention is the production of a torpedo trap or guard which has a plurality of rods pivotally mounted upon the hull of the ship and connected to the tanks for supporting` the tanks and the nets carried thereby spaced from the side ot the ship while supporting springs are connected to the ship and the net for yieldingly retaining the net upon each side of the ship in a vertical plane.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a torpedo trap or guard wherein each float is provided with a plurality ot' diverging arms tixedly mounted thereon so as to permit these arms to support the side. rods of a section of a net, thus holding the net in a vertical plane whereby the net Will` Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

sei-iai No. 158,339.

be in position to engage a torpedo directed toward the ship.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a ship showing the torpedo trap or guard mounted in position thereon and in condition for use;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the net, portions o'l' the structure being shown in elevation;

F 8 is a front elevation of the net and tanks, portions of the supporting links and springs being shown broken away;

Fig. Llis a transverse section through one of the floats illustrating the manner in which the arms and the link are connected thereto;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the outer end of one of the supporting arms;

Fig. G is a fragmentary elevation partly in section illustrating the manner in which one oi. the supporting springs is connected to one of the side rods of the mesh sections.

Referring to the accompanying drawings hy numerals, it will be seen that the torpedo trap or guard is adapted to be positioned upon a ship l having the usual hull 2. Eyes l and l are carried by the hull 2 of the ship as shown in Fig. 2 and have nuts 5 carried upon the inner ends for positively holding the eyes 3 and in tixcd positions upon the hull 2. lt is of cour.4 obvious that any other suitable means may be employed for retainingl the eyes 3 and 4; upon the hull 2 in spaced relation and above the water line. .lt will also be noted that the ship l is provided with a plurality of windlasses 6 as shown in Fig. 1 for purposes to be hereinafter set forth.

The retaining links 7 have eyes S formed upon their inner ends and these eyes S engage eyes 3 carried upon the hull 2 of the ship l for pivotally supporting the inner ends of the retaining links 7. The outer ends of the links 7 are also provided with eyes 9 which engage the eyes 10 connected to the floats 11.

The float 11 is preferably cylindrical in cross section and elongated as illustrated clearly in Fi 1, 3 and 4. and the eye 10 supported upon each float 11 has a head 12 formed upon its inner end thereby holding the eye 10 against displacement. It will be noted by referring particularly to Fig. 4c that the connection of the retaining link 7 to one of the floats 11 is below the water possibility of' the torpedo exploding is greatly reduced or if the torpedo should explode the holding` thereo't' spaced from the ship will prevent the ship from being injured.

Vilhat is claimed, is;

I. In a torpedo trap or guard of the class described the combination of a ship, float means connected to said ship, guard means connected to said float means and means for yieldably retaining said guard means in a substantially vertical plane.

2. In a torpedo trap or guard the combination of a ship, float means movably connected to said ship, sectional guard means formed upon said float means and means yieldably retaining` said guard means in substantially vertical planes.

3. In a torpedo trap or guard the combination of a ship, links pivotally mounted upon said ship, floats connected to said links, arms extending from said floats, a net carried by said arms and means for yieldably supporting said net in a vertical position.

+L. In a torpedo trap or guard the combination of a ship, links pivotally mounted upon said Ship, floats connected to said links, arms extending from said lloats, a sectional net carried upon said arms and springs connected to said ship and to said sectional net for yieldably retaining the sectional net in a vertical plane.

5. In a torpedo trap or guard the combination of a ship, links pivotally mounted upon said ship, floats connected to said links by an ocenter connection, arms extending from said floats, guard means carried by Said arms and means for yieldably retaining said guard means in a. set position, said guard means being adapted to yield by the movement of said links because of the offcenter connection of said floats when an obstacle strikes said guard means.

6. In a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of ay ship, links pivotally mounted upon said ship, floats connected to said links by an offcenter connection, arms extending from said floats, a sectional net connected to said arms, means for yieldably retaining said sectional net in a vertical plane whereby when an obstacle strikes said net the force thereof will cause the net to move inwardly as said links swing downwardly because of their offcenter connection to said floats after which said means will return said net to its normal position.

7. In a torpedo trap or guard the eombination of a ship, links pivotally connected to said ship, floats connected to said links by an offcenter support, arms extending from said floats, a net carried upon said arms, coil springs connected to said ship and said net for yieldably retaining said net in a vertical plane, said springs being adapted to yield when an obstacle strikes said net thereby permitting said arms to swing and said net to move inwardly for taking up the itorce of the impact after which said springs will return said net to its normal position.

8. In a torpedo trap or guard the combination of' a ship, links pivotally mounted upon said ship, tanks connected to said .links by an oflcenter connection, arms cx tending from said tanks, a net carried upon said arms, coiled springs carried by said ship and engaging said net for normally retaining said net in a vertical plane, stop lugs carried by said ship in line of movement of links whereby when an obstacle strikes said net and drives the same inwardly by the pivoting of the links, the movement oi' the said links in one direction will be stopped by said lugs after which said springs will return said net to its normal position whereby said net will at all times be spaced from the side of said ship.

9. In a torpedo trap and guard of the class described, the combination oi a ship, links pivotally mounted upon said ship, floats connected to said links, diverging arms extending from said floats and guard means carried by said arms.

l0. In a torpedo trap or guard of the class described, the combination of a ship, links pivotally mounted upon said ship, floats carried upon said links, diverging arms extending from said floats, a net carried by said arms whereby said net will be held in a taut condition and means for yieldably retaining said net in a set position.

11. In a torpedo trap or guard of the class described, the combination of a ship, links pivotally mounted upon said ship, floats connected to said links, arms fixed upon said floats and diverging therefrom, a net carried by said arms whereby said net will be held in a taut condition, coiled springs connected to said ship and engaging said net for normally holding the same in a vertical plane, said net being adapted to yield when an obstacle strikes the same,

12. In a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of a ship, floats connected to said ship, guard means connected to said floats, and means for yieldably retaining said guard means in a substantially vertical plane.

13. In a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of a ship, float means connected to said ship, nets connected to said float means, and means for yieldably retaining said nets in substantially vertical planes.

14:. In a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of a ship, float means connected to said ship, nets connected to said float means, and springs connected to said nets for retaining said nets in substantially vertical planes.

15. In a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of a ship, float means connected to said ship, guard means connected to said fioat'means, and springs connected to said ard means for holding said guard means in a substantially vertical plane.

i6. ln a torpedo trap or guard, the oombination of a ship, floats moyably connected to said ship, sectional guard means carried by said floats, and means yieldably retain` ing said guard means in substantially vertical planes. n

l?. ln a torpedo trap or guard, the oombination of a ship, floatfineans moyably Connected to said ship, sectional nets carried by said fioat means, and means yieldably retaining said guard means in substantially Vertical planes.

18. ln torpedo trap or guard, the oombination of a ship, float means moi/'ably connected to said ship, sectional. nets carried byV said float means and springs connected to said ship and said nets for yieldably retaining said nets in substantially vertical planes.

19. ln a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of a ship, lioat means connected to said ship, sectional guard means carried by said float means and springs yieldably retaining said guard means in substantially vertical planes.

20. ln a torpedo trap or guard, the oombination of ship, links piyotally connected to said ship, floats connected to said links at olieenter points, and guard means carried by said floats, whereby when force of impact is imparted to said guard means, said guard means may move slightly toward said ship by sinking slightly against the buoyancy of said floats.

21. ln a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of a ship, links pivotally connected to said ship, floats connected to said links at ofeenter points, arms extending from said floats and nets carried by said arms.

22. ln a torpedo trap or guard, the eombination of a ship, links pivotally connected to said ship, floats Connected to said links at oieenter points, diyerging arms extending from said ioats, nets carried by said arms,

whereby said nets will be held in taut conditions.'

ln a torpedo trap or guard, the oombination of a shin, links pivotally connected to said ship, floats Connected to said links at ofl'eenter points, diverging arms extending from said floats, nets carried by said arms, whereby said nets will be held in taut conditions, and means for holding said nets in substantially vertical planes.

2a. ln a torpedo trap or guard, the oombination of a ship, links pivotally connected to said ship, fioats connected to said links at offeenter points, diverging arms extending from said floats, nets carried by said arms, whereby said nets will be held in taut conditions, and springs carried by said ship and connected to said nets for holding the same in substantially vertical planes.

25. ln a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of a ship, links pivotally mounted. upon said ship, floats connected to said links by off-center connection, arms extending from said fioats, nets carried by said arms, and means for retaining said nets in substantially vertical planes.

26. In a torpedo trap or guard, the eombination oi a ship, links pivotally mounted Vpon said ship, floats Connected to said links by oiieenter connections, arms extending from said floats, nets Carried by said arms. and springs carried by said ship and engaging said nets for holding the same in substantially vertical planes.

27. ln a torpedo trap or guard, the combination of a ship, links pivotally mounted upon said shig, floats connected to said links by od-eenter Connections, arms extending from said floats, guard means carried by said arms and springs carried by said ship and engaging said guard means for holding l the same in substantially Vertical planes.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto aflix my signature.

` LOUIS EARL ARMSTRONG.

Servies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing 'the f Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

